The Indian contingent have reached Rio to participate in the biggest global sporting event -- the Olympic Games. The Indian athletes have already settled down at the newly-constructed Rio Games Village close to the venue.
Despite several issues that have popped up in the last few weeks at the Rio Olympics Games Village, it seems that the Indian contingent do not have much to complain about. The Games Village compound has 31 buildings in total and is set to be the home for 18,000 athletes from all over the world during the Rio Olympics 2016.
Indian gymnast Dipa Karmakar, shooter Heena Sidhu and the Indian women's hockey team checked into the Games Village on Sunday.
"It was a long journey but I am hoping to adjust within a day or two and will get down to the gym and training. I have already found out where the gym is, the swimming pool and various other facilities, so we have begun to settle in," Dipa Karmakar was quoted as saying by PTI.
Meanwhile, Indian contingent Chef-de-Mission Rakesh Gupta has confirmed that the Indian athletes are happy to be there.
"Abhinav Bindra, Heena Sidhu, boxer Shiva Thapa and Dipa have all checked in the past couple of days, as have the women's hockey team. The men's hockey team arrived a day earlier, so we are nearing our full strength," Gupta said.
"The teething problems in the Village have been sorted out and it is improving each day. We still have six days to go for the start, and the athletes are beginning to feel comfortable."
However, language has been an issue at the Rio Games Village. Gupta was hopeful that this problem will also be resolved as the holidays start in Rio. The volunteers are mostly school and college-going kids and they have to wait till August 1 for their holidays to start. Post that, the English-speaking volunteers should be available.
"We have faced some problems in transport, particularly the drivers who have language issues, and they don't know the routes very well. The biggest issue we are facing now is the language problem. The volunteers that are engaged, belong to schools and colleges," Gupta added.
"But the holidays only start from 1st (of August), so there is a shortage of volunteers. They are hoping more volunteers will be available, especially English speaking volunteers, after August 1."
